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Post by Fireheart on Mar 7, 2017 20:38:48 GMT -5
.....that, overall, religion has a positive or negative effect on the world? ....and why do you feel that way?
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Post by Bob on Mar 7, 2017 22:06:16 GMT -5
I know that religion plays a large role in many lives and I'm sure that many benefit from the positive influences that faith can bring. On the other hand, I can't help but feel that organized religion has been the cause of so much heartache and strife for many folks. I am perhaps jaded in my old age, but when I see how many of the major religions try to control the lives of their followers, I think it's been the cause of so much pain for so many people. I was raised in the Presbyterian faith, but stopped going to church in my early teens. My faith is internal; I don't need someone telling me right from wrong or what to believe. I look at organized religion as a means to control people, and that has real potential to do harm. In an extreme example, one might look at the Westboro Baptist Church for all the evidence one needs as to how folks can pervert the teachings in the bible. But one can say that about many of the major religions. Certainly we've seen the extremists in the Muslim faith use the language in the Quran to justify horrific acts around the world, all in the name of Allah. There are examples in Judaism, Catholicism, etc. Look at preachers who prey on folks to send money, giving them hope of recovery from illness when it's apparent they're just out to rip off the vulnerable and enrich themselves (see Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker). I look at the more recent discoveries of the abuse that took place in the Catholic Church as another extreme example, but certainly worth noting.
I guess I just feel that organized religion has been the cause of so much strife and discord in the world, that for me it's had a negative impact.
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Post by tnthomas on Mar 7, 2017 22:10:23 GMT -5
Bob,
Thanks for typing up MY exact same sentiments, regarding internal faith, and the downside to organised religion.
I am not a good typist, so your efforts are much appreciated. :-)
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Post by highlandannie on Mar 8, 2017 2:38:40 GMT -5
Bob, I agree with you completely!
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Post by formerlyme on Mar 8, 2017 8:20:42 GMT -5
I totally agree with what Bob posted. Organized religions have had more negative effects than positive ones throughout history. All religious doctrines have been created by fallible humans, and I have never been able to accept any of them in their entirety. Spirituality is very much a personal thing, in my opinion, not a 'group think' thing.
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Post by Fireheart on Mar 8, 2017 9:27:00 GMT -5
I very much agree with all of you. I can't help but think back to a post that I saw last week on Instagram that said: "If your religion is a cause of you hating any group of people, you need a new religion." I have to agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. I personally feel that any form of religion or spirituality should have it's primary focus as love and compassion.... but that's just my personal view.
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Post by dragonlady on Mar 9, 2017 1:43:54 GMT -5
Organized religion has been the ultimate evil in many eras of history. They have been responsible for major loss of life from human sacrifice, torture, burning at the stake, and other gruesome executions - not to mention wars and religion sanctioned slavery and subjugation of other cultures.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2017 17:03:26 GMT -5
This is a sore subject with me. I believe that religion is evil under the guise of being good. Wars are caused by religion. Peoples' lives are ruined by religious rules. Prejudice is caused by religion. I could go on and on but no longer have the energy to do so at my age. I've talked about this too much in my lifetime. I won't even go into my personal experience with my family and religion. I've worked it all out in my mind and with counseling and have no use for any church. I'm better off without it. Most people are.
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Post by smitty45 on Mar 23, 2017 11:56:28 GMT -5
I consider my religion Spiritual. I guess a make up of all religions as well as paganism. The good parts though. Looking back over history,, when Moses came down from Mt ( I forget the name ) with the 10 commandments one of the most important was " thou shalt not kill". Fast forward,,, during the Inquisitions Pagans were rounded up and arrested,, brought before the pope and judged,, if they didn't accept Jesus they were killed.. In the Bible it's basically said those who sleep with the same sex shall be put to death. Also in the Bible it say's eat, drink and be merry,,, yet Glutony is a sin.. Yeah, I have no use for religion that is so contradictive. I do however believe in Jesus,, seems the Church forgot all about his teachings and read from a book written by mortal men,, then go ahead and put their own spin on what is meant. Thatls where the danger is.
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Post by Drifter on Mar 23, 2017 13:51:04 GMT -5
The Bible is said to be written by other people, a 'story' of his life and teachings. Jesus never wrote a thing. So how can a person believe the narrative of the Bible?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2017 14:59:06 GMT -5
Religion has taken over the bible. The Bible has been taken apart and put back together several (maybe hundreds) of times. It has been rewritten, deleted from, added to and generally completely changed over the centuries.
And yet some religious people on social media will say, "God said this or God said that in the Bible." God did not say anything since a god is not a human being.
All kinds of thoughts and opinions are attributed to Jesus Christ, also. We don't know who Jesus really was, do we? Apparently, he was well-liked and revered for his teachings. But he could be comparable to one of our modern day religious leaders or even Martin Luther King. Since he was Egyptian, he certainly was not the blue-eyed white man with light brown hair that we see in many religious pictures.
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Post by ellie1142545 on Apr 4, 2017 9:24:07 GMT -5
Religion has taken over the bible. The Bible has been taken apart and put back together several (maybe hundreds) of times. It has been rewritten, deleted from, added to and generally completely changed over the centuries. And yet some religious people on social media will say, "God said this or God said that in the Bible."
God did not say anything since a god is not a human being. All kinds of thoughts and opinions are attributed to Jesus Christ, also. We don't know who Jesus really was, do we? Apparently, he was well-liked and revered for his teachings. But he could be comparable to one of our modern day religious leaders or even Martin Luther King. Since he was Egyptian, he certainly was not the blue-eyed white man with light brown hair that we see in many religious pictures. I agree with you....
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Post by ellie1142545 on Apr 4, 2017 9:45:04 GMT -5
Religion is one of those words, that's not even in the Bible.
What Bob says is true....Organized Religion has taken over the world...Most leaders in today's Churches will not go by what the Lord says, but by what they think he says....
It's very hard to find a Bible Preaching, Bible teaching, Church, but they are still out there. Hubby and I have been attending our Church for 22 years now...What's so strange, is that many people have said they won't attend our Church because they've heard that it's a cult...A Bible Teaching Church, that believes in taking Christ out to the community....
I believe that The Bible is the Word of God. I take it in it's entirety, from cover to cover. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
It's true that we do not know what Jesus looks like, it's also true that most people compare him to modern day leaders. One thing I do know for sure. He died on the cross for our sins. He was buried in a tomb, yet rose up on the third day, to live and reign forevermore.
And if a person reads the Book of Matthew chapter 22, they will find that the majority of those things listed there, that we will see, before His coming, are happening today....
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Post by Warrigal on Apr 9, 2017 5:05:30 GMT -5
My faith has had a positive effect on me.
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Post by birdgal on Dec 11, 2017 16:26:42 GMT -5
Negative. I feel that way because I see people killing and hating each other because of their religion. There's a HUGE difference in being religious and being Spiritual.
I have a cousin who is very religious. She goes to church all the time and gives up things for Lent. She also hates Black people and Jewish people and is proud of it. Many times I want to ask her if she knows what religion Jesus practiced but I know she'll say something stupid.
God doesn't like stupid and neither do I. lol.
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